Klarinet Archive - Posting 000158.txt from 2007/02

From: kurtheisig@-----.net
Subj: Re: [kl] Band Directors-Help needed
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 07:52:44 -0500

MADNESS # 2!!!!!!

THIS ONE IS COMING---YOUR WAY!

An old experienced teacher that studied how to be a better band director with me came to me with this one.

A district in East San Jose had a BRILLIANT idea.

Instead of signing last year's kids up in this years band (woodshop, art class, sewing.......), the computer would randomly assign kids to electives.

Kids that had been in band might now be in art, or woodshop! Kids that had been in woodshop might be assigned to art or band.

This band director this year got back ONE kid from his previous band! (Kid does like band though and just bought a new HEISIG FLUTE, so he won't have to play the school-issued junk)

They had tried it last year and he had gotten back so few, that they had no band for the entire first semester! The teacher ---full time band director for years----wound up teaching math for the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND sillyness.

His beginning class was also random. Of course, the parents who had not wished to have their kids in band did not wish to rent or purchase an instrument. I have evaluated and repaired many of the school instruments that would then have to be issued. Methuselah may have been alive when these were made and they have been abused for decades!

He was told by administration: "You're a good teacher, it's YOUR JOB to MAKE them LIKE it!"

HAVE FUN KIDS!!!!!!!!!

This is part of the new plan to wreck our schools. When will this nation wake up?

Kurt

(831) 425-5658

-----Original Message-----
>From: Bob and Deborah Shaw <theshaws10@-----.net>
>Sent: Feb 19, 2007 5:33 PM
>To: Trombone-L <trombone-l@-----.org>
>Subject: [kl] Band Directors-Help needed
>
>Our school district is currently going through some major changes (not good
>I am afraid!) and replacing 6th grade band, choir and orchestra with
>exploratory band, choir and orchestra. We will have 30 days of instruction
>to introduce all of the instruments in the subject that we teach, along with
>music theory, etc. Each teacher (band, choir, orchestra) will have the same
>class in a rotational exploratory wheel.
>
>Who out there has something similiar that we can use as a model? We need
>some good information as to what has been done, and what works? Has it
>worked, what was the outcome, etc.
>
>We have fought long and hard to keep our programs, but, it seems that our
>expertise is not being honored. The middle school concept is more important
>to our district than what is best for our music programs and what we think
>is best for our students.
>
>If you have participated in a program like this, please respond and tell me
>what your experience has been and what the outcome has been.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Deborah Shaw
>Band Director
>901 N.13th St.
>Lingle Middle School
>Rogers, Arkansas 72756
>
>
>
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